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Piers walks past me and opens the driver’s door. “I’m driving.”

Finn glances at Beck. “Which seat will be easiest for her?”

“Backseat’s probably easier,” Beck starts, but I cut him off.

“Passenger side.”

Beck rolls his eyes. “Duh. It’s the closest.”

It’s also the safest. I don’t bother explaining.

Beck and Finn are careful as they help Cammie from the wheelchair into the car. She winces when they move her, breath catching, but she doesn’t complain. Once she’s settled in the back seat, Beck climbs in with her. Finn takes the front passenger seat beside Piers.

I hold the top of Cammie’s door and lean down slightly. “I’ll follow behind. My guy’s in the car ahead.”

Cammie looks up at me through the open window, lips twitching. “This feels a little excessive, Viking.”

Beck leans forward with a shit-eating grin. “Fucking entourage just for you, baby!”

I roll my eyes again, but before I can shut the door, Cammie catches my gaze. For one moment everything else disappears. She mouths two silent words.

Thank you.

I give her one short nod, then close the door.

twenty-five

Camelia

I’m in the back seat with Beck, which feels both ridiculous and strangely comforting at the same time.

The car is moving smoothly through traffic, Piers driving, Finn riding shotgun, and Leith following behind us in another car like some kind of silent, heavily armed shadow. I catch myself staring out the window, replaying that last look Leith gave me right before he closed the door. I still can’t figure him out.

The two-scent-match, two-not thing in this pack makes everything so damn complicated. Piers and Beck hit me like a freight train every time they get close. All their overwhelming alpha pull makes my omega sit up and beg. But Finn and Leith? They’re a whole different puzzle.

Finn, at least, feels safe. Easy. He makes it clear he likes spending time with me. He pays attention in that quiet, thoughtful way of his. I mean, the man went shopping and came back with unicorn house slippers and cheap plastic lip-print earrings because he thought they’d make me smile. That’s an alpha who actually sees me.

But Leith? Leith is the hard one.

In the four days since the accident, while he’s been hovering around the hospital, he’s barely said twenty words directly to me. I know he wasn’t in the room as much as Finn, and good luck getting a word in edgewise when Beck’s around, but still. The man is a statue. Quiet. Watchful.

He’s always ten steps ahead on the logistics and safety stuff. But when it comes to actually talking to me? Almost nothing. And that matters.

If this pack is going to work—if I’m going to try to make this work—I need to connect with all of them. Especially Leith. Without that, I don’t know where I stand. I don’t know where we stand. One wrong move and the whole thing could crumble because the quiet one never let me in.

I shift a little in the seat and wince as my side protests. Beck immediately leans closer, hand hovering like he wants to help but isn’t sure if he should touch me. His citrus scent fills the space between us.

“You good, sugar?” he asks, softer than usual.

“Yeah,” I lie, offering him a small smile. “I was just thinking.”

“About what?” he presses, leaning in a little closer.

I latch onto the first thing that comes to mind, running my hand along the buttery soft leather of the seat. “About this car? I love the orange and black leather. It’s gorgeous.”

Beck’s grin turns absolutely wicked. “Oh, this old thing? This is the boss’ car.”

From the front seat, Finn lets out a quiet chuckle.